Illustrative image
On April 15, unidentified gunmen assassinated two members of the Free Syrian Police in the Turkish-occupied town of al-Bab in northern Aleppo.
The first casualty was 1st Lt. Khalid al-Khatib. Two gunmen riding a motorcycle shot and killed the police officer in al-Bab. Al-Khatib, also known as “Abu Jamal,” is originally from the town of Marea. According to opposition sources, he fought with the Free Syrian Army in the early years of the war.
The second casualty was policeman Mohamad Juma’a. His body was found with a fetal firearm wound near the village of Sousian in the outskirts of al-Bab. Juma’a was from the town of Tadef and has been serving in the occupied area of Afrin.
The Free Syrian Police is a law reinforcement body backed by Turkey. The force is active in Turkish-occupied areas in northern and northeastern Syria. In the last few years, the force became infamous for its criminal activities and for the misconduct of its personnel.
No group has claimed responsibility for the assassinations in al-Bab, so far. ISIS, whose cells are present to be active in the town, remains the main suspect.
Last year, ISIS cells carried out a series of assassinations in al-Bab, targeting policemen as well as known collaborators of the Turkish intelligence. The new assassinations may be the beginning of a new campaign by the terrorist group.
It appears that the US is, um, ahem, Allowing the resurgence of ISIS. :)